Home in the rural area.

Well dang firstly this is post 51 so no giveway for post 50 aww well I'll make a giveaway for post 63 as that was a good year.

I thought I'd post some pics of home,we live in a rural area called Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory..it is dry season at present so that means no rain for 6 months so things look a tad brown....

pic on the left was taken standing on the verandah lookin out across the front of the block-we try to keep the house area of the block watered during the dry,pic on the right is looking up the back of the block-dustbowl.

and there is the house on the left ..pic on the right..is of a garden bed near the clothes line

and now blogger is palying funny buggers and taking ages to load pics so I shall call it quits for now...
Cheers Vickie
Thanks for dropping in.

Thrift Store shopping and stuffs

Oh my I can't believe it's been 10 days or so since I posted..aww well I guess maybe being really tired and rundown..and not really in the mood for the computer would make that happen eh?


Well yesterday I mailed off PIF gifts to Lissa and Tracy hope you like them...there is still a free item for someone else should they wish too join the PIF-I have not really campaigned for a third person as I send a RAK(randon act of kindness) to an unsuspecting person each month,so I figured that works too...


Well today I actually felt quite alive when I woke up and I had some energy so I went too the local thrift store ,picked up some nice pieces of cotton-you can relate can't you I just had too have them I could not leave them there for someone else.... I will use somewhere I'm sure LOL


I then was browsing the bags as the special this week was bags-belts-hats $1.00 woohoo I got this so not me bag but ahh it was only $1....


And then I turned around and saw this sewing machine cover in good condition.thought too self well ya just never know when you might have too travel with your machine so I walks over to look closer at it......oops ok it had a sewing machine in it...the masking tape on the top said..


"BROTHER SEWING MACHINE-NEEDS EXPERIENCED BOBBIN-MOTOR FIXING"....ahh I said to myself I won't open it and look , I'll just buy it 'cause the cover would be handy and it was only $10.00 .....


I get home cart the machine upstairs and open the cover.....well my goodness it has another little handy cover hmmm.....well there is the bobbin housing all in bits and the throat plate off....it still has the owners manual and all the feet it came with in thier little compartment,ok this don't look too bad..SO I look at the stitches arghhh pooey it don't have blanket stitch grrr ...One day I'll find me a machine that has balnket stitch.No I'm not going out and buying a new one I have perfectly good machine here just no blanket stitch....

that brown cover on the machine snaps on to the back and slides into 2 little slots on the front -handy jigger............
hard cover case can be seen in the background there
Oh and it still had the protcetive plastic strip across the stitch display panel-go figure


I amused myself for ½hour and next thing yah know the machine is humming away nicely yeehaah.....and my universal walking foot fits on it perfect-I will use this machine to practice and play with machine quilting ........


Cheers Vickie
Thanks for dropping in.

Carolina Crossroads DONE!

Well I have bben following Dr's orders and resting my leg..and very slowly sewing the final border down on my CC quilt and it is finally completed and now on the bed with one cats approval,gawd she was quick she wasn't there one minute and bop there she was smack bang on

on the bed when I clicked the camera.

1st pic with it untucked so you can see the wee green trim.

Now don't look at the unfished walls or the carpet under the bed waiting to be laid LOL them things will happen it just won't be right away...

cheers Vickie

Pin Cushion Swap

Just a few of my pincushions..

One can never have too many pincushions eh?

Linda is holding an international pincushion swap on her blog....to be mailed out by 7th July'08..

it will be a secret swap..... come join in th efun,

cheers Vickie

What a way too get 2 days of work OUCH!

Well honestly I am beginning to believe I am an accident waiting too happen..
Days started off normal enuff...blah blah blah.....then off too do deliveries...
Yeah last delivery 1pm woohoo I'll get lunch at a reasonable time...
oopsy uh uh nope not going to happen...
my last delivery was dropping off 2 parcel's at a local courier for them too deliver to Katherine (couple hours sth of darwin) tonight
Well I pop the parcels on the counter then go into the office to get one of the girls to sign the docket ...then off I go back out the office and the site doggie( which is a lovely dog-looks like a blue heeler/kelpie cross) is sitting there wagging her paw for a shake so as is routine I shake her paw....and step down the step to walk too the car-well that's when shit hit the fan the dog jumped up and bit me on the upper-thigh,well it took a couple of seconds to register that the bloomin thing had bitten me, then I casually and quite clamly walk back into the office and too let the girls know the dog bit me,1 of the girls goes hey Vic won't be a minute ..I'm like ok no problem ..then when she came and said whats up..I lost me bundle like a freakin wimp..and I started shaking like mad and the tears came from no where..and I managed to tell her the dog had bitten me...well she flies out to the dog kicks the dog,yells at it, ties it up..then comes back too check on my leg...so into the loo I go pull down the daks and yukky big red/blue bite mark..well by then both the office girls are looking at my leg nearly crying with me...arghhh grr I just want too get out of there...so they tell me the dog will be put down tomorrow-
can they do anything for me -like take me back to work-am I ok to drive blah blah..I say i'm fine must get back too office and fill out paperwork and report incident they say no worries just call us if you need anything..
I get in the car and start shaking worse so I call hubby and luckily he was at his office, so through garbled words I telll him I need ice have been bitten by a dog,and I go to his work place bawling like a baby..and we put ice on it and it's stinging like hell....
I manage to get back too work..calll the OH&S bloke and he says get too Dr..so off I go (hubby came and got me)..Dr says very lucky skin has just been broken..must be careful big bruising and lots of swelling-you stay home for cple days and keep it elevated, then he says when did you have your last tetanus shot arr well that was easy too remember-ermm 4½yrs ago when hubby ran over my foot with the ride on mower (told ya accident just waiting too happen)..ok he syas you don't need another yet..PHEW
As the saying goes in oz land "I musta ran over 10 chinamen for the run of luck I'm having lately" NOT
I must say at least taking some pain relief 1 hr ago the pain has subsided some what.....
cheers Vickie

WELL WELL WHAT CAN I SAY ERMMM!

Gee whizacaz...what a hard week at work, this week has been soo darn busy..anyways so what we get paid so therefore we must work for it right ...yeah ok I'm not whinging truly I'm not but what wopuld you do eh?
Tonight we have a massive concert here in Darwin at the TIO stadium we have Sir Elton John..yep ok and-well the tickets were way expensive so I didn't even consider going(plus I'm not that fond of crowds) BUT...my darling husband informs me they got a work order in requesting someone to be at TIO Stadium for 4 hours (concert duration), to monitor the fire system..grrr ackkk hmmphhh..well he knew I didn't like (but like honey I could of got in for free and you would of been paid to be there... LOL smartass says "yep and that's the only way you would of got me there")....so he got one of the other guys too do it...arghhh wel that is one whoop upper slap I owe him hehehehe...
Then too top that off we have out little hick -Freds Pass Show this weekend and I found out late last night that James Blundell (his website ain't working so no link)was opening the show,NOT 1 advert on the television at all that just suks big time..ok so now I have aired that phew I feell so much betterah..I'm just going ot sit back with the radio and Ruby hehehe she always makes me feel better'
cheers Vickie

Swaps are great YES!

Don't you just love the fact that you know a parcel is on the way too you that has been lovingly handmade just for you-BUT you have no idea what it is till you recieve it..I participated in Mothers Day swap (nope we didn't swap mothers-I would not burden anyone with that)..the swap was within the yahoo CRAFT group it was an open item swap-make something you think your partner would like....
Well I guess I was lucky 'cause my partner was Karen and she just loooves cats-so coolies I make her a puddy-cat....I also sent Karen some fabric amd a set of coasters(aussie made) with bright coloured fish on them-which was ironic as Karen's husband has a room of fish stuffs(which I did not know about) so they will fit in well....
And well I guess I wasn't too difficult for Karen as I looove Chooks(not real ones)..
and she made me the most gorgeous chooky doll......and Karen also sent me some beautiful Debbie Mumm fabric and a cute pin cushion (never can have too may pincushions)

This is Chooky Doll (as I have lovingly called her) standing tall

Well look at that Chooky Doll has her own chooky to nurse

HEy presto will you look at that chooky doll has turned into a sitting chook...golly Karen is soo clever,

cheers Vickie

Check this out!

Woohoo look at this Linda is having a giveaway on her blog way kewl--couple of patterns and a book -I'd post a pic of the giveaway but I want you too go take a look, pop on over and take a look
Cheers Vickie

Where you should live?

Well isn't this interesting I just did this wee quiz and look at the answer!

You Should Live in the Country

You are laid back, calm, and good at entertaining yourself. You don't need an expensive big city to keep you busy. You'll take the peaceful life over the stressful life any day of the week.

Where Should You Live?

Well I guess it's feral but it's still country..LOL..eerrmm well it's rural at least,
POP on over and tell me were you ahould live
cheers Vickie

How could I be cross?

Just had to share this with ya'll - I walked into the lounge room this evening to Little Miss Delta having a nap..ok nuffin wrong with that except she was on the coffee table..

Truly I grabbed the camera a took a pic the look on her face was like

"UH OH I'M SOO BUSTED"

So then I took a second pic oh my gawd this dog is unbeliveable...

"OOPS OK I'LL POSE AND MUM WON'T GROWL HEHEHE"

Yep it worked I just busted up laughing,

cheers Vickie

Pay it Forward

Ok I have now finished my PIF gifts and hope to get them in the mail end of this week..


I posted a sneak peek in an earlier post and here is another one..hehehe
I enjoyed making these gifts and made every attempt to tailor them to the recipients..
More items have been made but I can't post pics as they are gifts...
cheers Vickie

Sometimes

Hello to those that do pass by and have a peek...I've been absent from blogland 'cause some of lifes shit was getting me a tad tied up...well actually it was family shits so I decided that "I can chose my family just like I can choose my friends"(as my darn family is so disfunctional / controlling)..pretty much all my life I wished for a good relationship with my so called mother but alas it was not to be so before some picked up the NT NEWS with the headline of "MURDER"..I told family you will not see me anymore blah blah blah..so that is that,was pretty draining on me too say the least and I am so fortunate that I have a very suportive husband...

I have been cleaning out my sewing/comp room and have sent some stuffs away(stuff I will never use but other people might)..also have finished a few projects--pics later in another post...Hubby got me another computer working yeah no more laptop.....

"found a new friend called "RUBY" okay now don't get all alarmed I have only drank 1 bottle in a session..but 'tis yummo...

I have started some new projects..will posts pics at a later date...

Also am starting a new craft called paverpol

This lovely statue was made by a good frined of mine who Lives in Toolamba,Vic..I just love it soo much, so for mothers day I am getting all my supplies so I can start making them too....they are rad...
cheers for now
Vickie

Grab a Coffee this is one loong RAMBLE

Well as a few of you know I went down too Victoria too surprise my daughter for her 19th b-day..My girlfriend Judy of some many many many years too many too mention collected me from the airport and the damn plane was late arghh....getting back too her place which is miles and miles out the other side of melb-endeavour hills- was horrid for me all the darn cars and trucks and smog arghh ack ackk...and OMG we had too drive thru tunnels that was not fun for me .....we finally reached her place had a yak and coffee (dang Shantal phones me so I just stay cool and calm and did my best not too let on where I was)and then too bed for several hours to try catch some sleep......I continued to talk to Shantal nightly on the puter,that was too funny keeping my trap shut hehehe....

Shantal had no idea I was coming and nor did her father...lol..the look on his face when he opened the front door was pricelss-then he says saw someone walking down the stairs to the door but did'nt recognize it as you-crap anyone would think I'd had a totally body makeover-I am still me and was with him for like 14 years...ahuh 1 object achieved..he had too speak to me hehehe..so I hands him my camera and asked him nicely to take pics of kiddo's surprised face...

well he called her out and I was standing round the corner she just wrapped her arms around me and started bawling...her dad says look this way...

and she would not turn around she was crying soo much lol...

then she leans against the sofa and keeps bawling and saying pinch me pinch me this must be a dream.....

So we sit down and have a natter - and she finally got showered and dressed and then we went and visited a friend of mine I've known for 25 years her 2 daughters were in my first wedding-as a flowergirl(now passed away) and a bridesmaid...

well we just had to have a pic of me and Paula

I took her too "The Pancake Parlour" for lunch ...

Well this is what Shantal ordered for lunch..I was gagging it smelt and looked so sweet...but what the heck it was her b-day afterall eh

I couldn't resist I had to get a photo of her scoffing it down,although I will admit she left 1 scoop of ice cream on the plate LOL.. and she also had a massive iced coffee..then complained most of the afternoon that she felt like a fatty pig..ermm derr I wonder why...

We then went off and did some visiting too family and friends and that was way relaxing and a great day..lol..her friends were ringing her wishing her happy b-day and she just kept saying the same thing too all of them..guess what? "I'm driving arond with my mum".."she came down for my b-day".....

We had a wee family dinner...and then I headed of back to were I was staying..

I picked Shantal up the next day and we drove to Shepparton to visit family and friends..

oops hang on we were heading of too Shep and I say why is the oil light on..she says 'cause there no oil in the car...(count to 10 Vic...)so I calmy say your are mad do you know what happens if you have no oil in your car????..So into the servo I go 4 litres of oil and a bottle of coolant later-hrmm that I paid for intot the car we get and of wee goo......Oh and of courcerouus the kiddo had too by food at the servo.....

Well none of the people in Shep knew I was down so there were heaps of squeals and hugs on arriving at different ones houses..

This is a pic of my Aunty from Brisbane(who just happened to be down in melbourne for an Aglow (it's a christian group)thingy,and my cousin -my aunties daughter and moi...
Well the camera had a hissy fit so go no more pics until on the way home..gawd the kiddo can eat ....So while I was waiting in the car whilst she went and got something to eat again..I took this pic..

well I thought I'd get apic of her coming out with her food stuffs LOL..and this guy jst walks up the footpath figures eh?

Then I drives all the way from Shep to Karingal-frankston...too see my cousin as she has not seen Shantal for ummm 10 years.....that was a really good visit and a suurprise for my cousin as she did not know I was down(her hubby knew but he was good and kept it a secret)
Well dang just look at them eyes of mine something tells me I may be a tad weary LOL

A big big thankyo and hgs to Judy and Pete for having me at thier house and sharing thier vehicle with me when possible and for making sure I got back to the airport on time,luv ya both heaps......
So a good time was had and I am glad I did go down....even though I did not get too meet up with some people I will hopefully catch them later in the year..well my fingers are about to drop off now so if your still reading and have not fallen asleep
I thankyou, cheers Vickie

An award for me

Well ok it's only in blogland - but hey when you live out in the sticks like me it's great--without all my cyberfriends crafty and some not so crafty my life would be dull....Sometimes when my days have been real crappy I just turn on the puter and into blogland I go and my dreary day is soon brighter.....

<-- <--I have been given this award by Tracy

And I would like too pass this award onto every blogger I visit but I will just do 3 and that way they too can share the love.....

Catherine

Sandy

Rose

Ok you regulars before ya get all snitcheety and say why didn't she choose me..wellllll...I chose different people I visit 'cause that way you all can go have some interesting reads...
cheers Vickie

Productive day

Well fistly I had too do a tad reorganization so the puddy cats had their own table instead of wrapping themselves around my sewing machine...ain't they cute,the one on the left is called Le (short for Leave) and the other one is called Cya (as in bye bye)

Well it's just great when you start the day of with sewing projects in mind and then actually achieve end results....

This little shopping bag is made from a template using a plastic bag-the ones your groceries are put into at the store...great tutorial here...BAG

But wait there's more......

I am doing a challenge in a yahoo group where we were sent a fat 1/4 of fabric and following guidelines have to make something...I also set myself a guideline that no fabric could be bought to complete this challenge...... well I can tell you that fat 1/4 has sat and sat-has been throw into various drawers to see if co-ordinating fabrics would jump out..grrr what seems like ages later finally a result-ahhh all I needed too do was forget about it and then some fabric that I felt looked oky-doky jumped at me-so off I went and started making something....

Above is a sneak pic of what the colours are..will post an update pic when more is sewn...
cheers Vickie

Blasted Shoes

What is it with shoes???
Now years ago I was quite the Imelda of shoes had them everywhere..I had platforms-stilletoes-flats-courts..gawd you name it I had it....then I moved to Queensland and it was too hot for shoes so I ditched them all(yep out went the lot)..and I just went around in slides-ya know the ones with just a strap over top part of foot-..or I wore joggers.....ahh why did'nt I wear thongs...hmm well 'cause I can't for some damn reason I get a blister 'tween da toes everytime-so gave them up..

So then I move too Darwin well I'm even worser I hate shoes..I wear joggers at work..and have 3 pairs of slides for other occasion's(like going to the store)
Well my dilemna started last week when it hit me arghhh..I'm going south for a few and it's darn freezing-eeekk I must get some form of closed in shoe....
Off to shoe shops I go arghhh -gawd I only need them for a few days,I ain't paying dat much...so then too the cheaper shoe places I go--grrr same again..and I'm not liking these style of shoes either.....sooo off to k-mart I go...well I would'nt exactly say this was a stress free trip...gawd I am really disliking these shoe styles and prices...OH hang on is that a discount stand I see..yep woohoo.now I will make myself find something here..geez I startin too feel like I'm bying shoes for me nanna......grrr ok nooo luck....
SO back too the granny shoes (well that's what they remind me of) I go I try on a zillion pairs....
then I just crack it totally and pick up a pair that are
totally not me in style (none in my preffered style or price range)and the colourwell that's something else-like rememba these are for a couple of days so the tips of my tootsies don't freeze... and ermm nope I'm not wearing joggers I have too wear them everyday at work....
and tada I now have a pair of stupid shoes to take with me.
Well when Hubby got home last night I shoe him my shoes-I put them on my feet and he says"hey they look good"..
I'm like your a male you are suppossed to say that..
Now I just pray I get no blisterers..
I have been popping them on a flitting about the house for a wee bit at a time,so they should be worn in when I leave...
Oh my I believe this is my longest ramble..
hehehe .....

Cheers Vickie

Angela's Blog Giveawy

woohoo don't we in blogland just love giveaways....pop on over to Angela's blog...'cause in celebration of her joing a couple of online marketplaces to peddle her wares....Angela has decided to have a giveaway....so go on over and join in the fun
cheers Vickie

Sneak Peek

Well on the weekend I felt like getting away from the massive Carolina Crossroad quilt , so I thought I'd start on my gifts for the PIF(pay it forward)
of whom I have Tracy and Lissa to make something for...hehehe so I thought I'd share a wee pic....that's all you will see for now..
cheers Vickie

Just for Fun

Hehehehe....crafty buddy of mine is now sporting a new hairdo-so I thought I'd give her a magazine cover too..ain't that what internet buddies are for eh?

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

Discount Magazine Subscriptions - Save big!

Thread Catcher

Well today I decided to take a break from the long long task of quilting the Carolina Crossroads quilt,and make myself this dandy little thread catcher that I located a FREE Pattern for on the Internet last night.

Jst sat it a top a sewing machine too show a fuller view.

I just used some scraps to make it and ONLY altered it a tad-like hey you have too add your own touches.

So here is the little beauty in situ...gawd why I have not made one of these sooner I will never know and t'was soo quick and easy too do-and bonus I made it with bits and bobs I had laying around the house....

Cheers All Vickie

Quilt give away

well we all like to receive a freebie eh? so why not pop on over too -Dana 's blog

-Old Red Barn Co..and leave a comment re the 200th post giveaway....

how generous hey

Carolina Crossroads contiued

So I am still travelling with the Carolina Crossroads quilt..have unpicked it all into rows and am quilting appox 1/4" inside all the blocks of my accent colour...here is some progress pics


three rows done and sitting together



circle/square showing stitching



star showing stitching,
ok back to the machine I go..

Kindness of others

Here is a pic of the charm pack won from Vickie's Blog-

ain't they just soo cute..

Someone I know up here went back home for cple weeks and thought of me..and bought some Batik from Jakata..she is going back in 6 months and said she will bring me back some batik from a diff area which will be brighter...will jst look at it for wile not sure what I'll make with it..the colours are lovely..

This is a wee panel that I was given with a b-day fat 1/4 from C-R-A-F-T B-Day Swapper..soo cute,so I finally made a cover for my overlocker/serger..even practiced some random quilting(I suk at that)..but overall am happy with the end result....

wow --- here is some pics...

Finally have taken some pices of some oppy shoppe bargains I've got this past couple of weeks..

These 2 lots of fabric all now washed and ironed cost me $6 for the lot..lady in the oppe shoppe said I looked like someone that would put it too good use..hehehe

all these cottons was 2 little bags for $2..great for them I just want a wee bit of that colour..

this is the $4.75 pain reliever..oh my goodness I can't believe how much easier this has been on my shoulders/neck and back-I truly have suffered no pain since purchasing and using this stool..the pic is axactly as I bought it-I just placed it in situ and away I went...

Well can you see the price tag on this cutie?$3.75 yep and I just looked at her and thought my I love that fabric and them stars-think I'll pull it apart and re-do it some how..oh and she has beautiful wings as well..

still got broken main puter arghh

oh well my puter is still one dead machine..I am soo not happy, ( am gratefl that I have this ancient lappie thou)I am going to try and find all you in blog land whom I visit and add too my blog..grr like it better thru IE 7 but have no choice for the moment...hopeflly will be able to post some pics of some recent grabs at the oppy shop..sooon..oh and the darn u key on this only works sometimes....still battling away with my carolina crossroads-have pulled all the rows apart and started to qilt the green pieces-don't look too bad..will be fun trying to sew it back together..no neck or back pain for me anymore when sewing woohoo I'm so darn ahppy abot that and the cure cost $4.75 from the local oppy shop..will trly try and post pics this week sometime..cheers for now...